Implement-steering attachment for tractors



A.'J. SILVA.'

lMPLElVIENT STEERING ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS..

APPLICATION FILED MAY10,1921.

Ptented May 2 3, T92

ANTQNE il". ILVil-l, Ulli MILTON, CLIFORNXA.

MPLEMENTSTEERI1\TG ATTACHMENT FUE, TRC'IURS.

retienen..

.application aaa nay 1e,

To all whom t may concern."

Be it known that l, Aritronn J. bhLvA, a citizen of the United States, residing,` at lrlilton, county of Calaveras, State of California, have invented certain new and usetul lmprovements in; Implement-tiitcering1 Attachments for Tractors; `and l `do 'declare the followingto be a i'ull, clear, and exact description of the saine, `reterence being,` had to the accompanying dra-wings, and to the characters ot .reference marked thereon,

`whichtorm a part of this application;

This inventionrelates to improvements in attachments `for tractors for the purpose ot connecting the drawn vehicle or implement thereto andto cause the said vehicle or implement to follow closely in the path ot the tractor whenvthe latter makes a turn, and without any slipping` or dragging ol the `wheels ol the drawn member, and without is connected, said. attachment being ar-` `ranged to be moved Yfrom one `side to the other of the longitudinal centerline oit the tractor, depending on thedirection in which i it is desired toturn the tractor, so that the tongneand the steeringwheels ofthe drawn `member to which `the tongue is connected,

will be swivelled to the same side tvo-cause a turning movement to be limparted to the drawn vehicle,so` that the latter will describe a curved path ot' its own volitionwitbout beingf dragged around by the tractor with a side slip; ot `the wheels., which causes `undue strain on both vehicles i Another object oiffi'ny invention is to provide a mea-ns lor inciting said attachment from side to side with the power oit the tractor engine, such means being controlled by thedriver o'i the tractor, so that he is not called upon to exert any physical effort in so doing other `than the shitting` of a lever to one side or the other. i i

These objects l accomplishby mea-ns of such structure and relative arrangement ot parts aslwilltully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

ln the drawings similar characters et reti `Specification of Letters latent.`

Patented May 23, i922.

rsa1; smal no. aereas.

erence indicate corresponding par 's in the several views.`

Fig. l is a top plan view of' the rear end of a tractor, showing my improved` steering` attachment. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectiontaken on aline 2 2 of Fig. l. i

Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on a line Zie-3 ot Fig. l.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral `l denotes the trame of the tractor, having supporting wheels or track members 2 at the rear end.

"Extending aro-und the rear endwot the iframe and partly around said `wheels or track and positioned a suitable distance from the ground, is a horizontal track 3 preferably formed on a curve whose center is the axis ot' turning ot the tractor with respect to the rear wheels.

This track preferably consists ot a pair of vertically spaced angle irons 41, whose verti cal legs 4. tace each other in if'eii'tical alinenient and are ontho outer side ot the curve. i

This track' is rigidly supported from the tramo l by braces 5 or otherwise.

Positioned between the twotrack members and projecting; outwardly thereof is a car`- riage 6 consisting ot frame 7 carrying two vertically positioned pairs ot horizontally spaced rollers S, arranged to ride i `on the inner faces of the angle-legs t, and a single vertical pair of rollers 9 positioned centrally et the rollers 8 and riding on the outer faces ot the legs 4a. l i

Another pair oit rollers l0 rides between the adjacent edges ol2 the legs 4.-, and a rigid arm l l projects rearwardly and centrally oit the carriage to adapt the same for connection to the tongue of the implement or vehicle being drawn. Thus it will be evident that a very easy riding:r carriage is provided. which is not-'apt to bind in any direction, and will more with a minimum ot friction. i This carriage is moved trom side to side oi the tractor, or rather -troni one end of the track to the other, by the following means :my

lilonnted ahead of the track and transversely ot the tractor is a shaft l2 keyed onto which is a combined clutch and sprocket or gear wheel 13 driven from the tractor engine, this wheel having` a pair of opposed beveled faces la to form the female members ot a pair ot male clutch members one on each side thereof whose hubs i6 are splined on sleeves lo" which are .keyed onto the ends olf sha-tts 17 which lie in continuous alinenient with the shalt l2, the sleeves also toi-ming` a bearing` tor the nhavi't 12, which is turnable therein. Un the outer ends ot these shafts are drums i8 on which are Wound cables i9 which extend and are connected to the opposite ends ot the carriage7 bearing against various sheaves or rollers 2O suitably arranged and connected to the tract; along;- the inner side thereof.

rlhe clutch members l5 are adapted to he either at a tiine engaged with the main clutch member 13 bv nieane oit volree 2l. having connection with the hubs 16 and pivoted at one end to va stationary member Q2. the opposite ende being; connected to springs 23 actingv to hold both voles and clutch menibers in neutral position.

The spring-connected ends of these 3io-hes are adapted to be engaged by pins 24 projecting)l inwardly oli levers pivoted onto the member S22 and having a connecting' cross-arm 26 at their opposite ende. rihis arm is shifted one way or the other by a. hand actuated lever 27 positioned vithin reach ot the driver ot the tractor.

llorn'ied with the hubs` 'i6 in the plane ol the levers 25 when the latter are in their neutral position are radiallyY arranged teeth 28, the interstioes between any tivo of which are adapted to receive a lun; Q9 on each such lever, thereby holding both hubs and the parts connected thereto against any rotative movement when the levereI are in neutral position.

n operation, it il; "s desired to malte a turn to the right with the tractor. thc wheels of the drawn vehicle are also turned to track in the saine direction. rllhc risrht hand lever 25 is then shifted to the lett` which causes the relies 2l. to be moved and thc clutch l5 on that side to be engaged with the member 13, which constantly turning. This im. parts rmovement to the Shaft li ou that side. causing the cable lf) to he wound on the drum.vr and drawing the carriage along' the right hand eide of Vthe track..

With the movement of the lever the lug- 29 thereon inov s to one side of the teeth E28, thus unlocking the Sleeve and allowing the sha t 1"? return. this#` unliicliincv being; done betere the clutch ineinbe actually7 engaged.

Since both leven: heine; connecleifl. move together, the lett hand lever mord.- aivay from its clutch. leaving` the Same inoperative, and the lug thereon is also disengaged. from the sleeve-teethleaving` the lett hand shaft 17 free to turn so that Ythe cable may y'unwind on that side as it is being Wound upon the drum on the other side.

A reverse movement of the levers of course reverses the above movements. and pcrn'iite' the carriage lo be rcturncil to a reni ral posi tion, or to be moved around to thc other sido. When the carriaurc has hren moved the necessary distance hy the rotation ol' thc shaft 17, the clutch is again diseiiogaggml. :ind the levers then engaged with thi` slccvc teeth` so that the carriage is l'orccd to stayv in the position to which it Vwas moved until the driver of the `{rnc/tor wills olicrwisc.

The track is pretcral'iljv ccntcrod 'troni i'hc axis et rotation o'l: thc tractor so that as tlnl latter turns the pull on the drawn vehicle will be always about in a direct lino with said axis7 making the turning;l operation much easier.

From the forejroimr dcffzcription it will he readilj7 :seen that lY liavo produced auch a device as substantiaflli7 lnllills the ohjccls ol the invention as set ltortl'i heroin.

lVhile this specification note ,Forth in detail the present and pre tei-red construction olf the device, still in practice such deviations; from such detail may he resorted to :n: do not form a. departure, troni the spirit ol' lhc in vention7 as delined h v thc appended claims.

.lrlavingthus described miv invention. what l claim as new and usel'ul and desire to .so cure by Letters lfateni. is:WM

l. in implement steering' attachment lfor tract-ore including; a horizontal track lixed on the tractor5 a carriage supported and guided by the trackV and adapted lor connection to the tongue ol a drawn implement, a power driven sha'tt.y a shatt on each sido thereo'l", and uorn'iallv disconnected there-- troni, means for operatively connecting either at a time ol said shafts with thc driven shalt. a drum on each slnilt.y and cables wound on said drums and loading: to the opposite ends of the carriage.

:in implement Streringf attachment 'l'or tractors including; a horizontal track tixed on the tractor` a. carriage Supported and guided hv thctracic and :n'laptcd l'or con` nection to the tongue oi a drawn implement. a. power driven lhatt` a shal' on cach side thereof. and normali)- discoinncicil thcrc` itionin a drinn on cach sha tt. cahier-i wound on said dining and lending` to the oppoi-:ito pndg; the finge. clutchrc hetvvecnithe driven haft sind thedrunrel'uiit and a coninionlv actuated ineanr` Vtor .engaging either nf. n time oi; the clutches Vwhile thc other remainsr inactive.

3. du implement Qlccrinig :tifn'hnicnt lor tractorsA including` a. horizontal track tired on the tractor. a. carriage supported and guided h v the tract. and adapted I'or connecting' to the tongue ot a drawn .in'ipleinont ay power driven shaft. a shaft on each side thercot` and normally disconnected therefrom` a drum on each shaft. cables wound on Said drums and leading' to the opposite ends of the carriage, clutches between the driven 'ill i li

v[liti lll) Lampes shaft `and the drum-shafts, means for engag ing either at a time of the clutches, and means whereby `when the clutches are disengaged both the drum-shafts will be locked against rotation.

4. An implement steering attachment for tractors including a horizontal track fixed on the tractor, a carriage supported and guided by the track and adapted for connection to the tongue of a drawn implement, a power driven shaft, a shaft on each side thereof, and normally disconnected therefrom, a drum onv each shaft, cables wound on said drums and leading to the opposite ends of the carriage, clutches between the driven shaft andthe drumshafts, and a common means for engaging either at a time of the clutches and for holding the drumshafts locked against rotation when the clutches are disengaged.

5. An implement steering attachment for tractors including a horizontal track fired on the tractor, a carriage supported and guided by the track and adapted` for con-` nection to the tongue of a drawn implement, a power driven shaft, a shaft on each side "thereof, and normally disconnected there from,` means for operatively connecting either at a `time of said shafts with the driven shaft, and means for moving the carriage along` the track in one direction with the rotation of the corresponding powerconnected shaft.

` 6. An implement steering attachment for tractors including a horizontal track fired on the tractor, a carriage supported and guided by the track and adapted for connection to the tongue of a drawn implement, a power driven shaft, a shaft on each side thereof, and normally disconnected therefrom, a drum on each shaft, cables wound on said drums and leading to the opposite ends of the carriage, a double-faced clutch member fixed on the driven shaft, companion clutch members splined on the drum# shafts, yokes connected to said companion members and z irranged to normally hold the same disengaged, and a commonly actuated. means for moving either yolre to cause its companion clutch member to be engaged with the main clutch without disturbing the inactive position of the other yoke.

7. An implement steering attachment for tractors including a horizontal track fined on the tractona carriage supported and guided by the track and adapted for connection to the tongue of a drawn implement, a power driven shaft, a shaft on each side thereof, and normally disconnected therefrom, a drum on each shaft, cables wound on said drums and leading to the opposite ends of the carriage, a double-faced clutch member Axed on the driven shaft, companion clutch members splined on the drum-shafts, yokes connected to said companion members and arranged to normally hold the same disengaged, lei/'ers on opposite sides of the yokes and in alinen'ient therewith, a bar connecting said levers, the bar being arranged to be shifted in either direction, whereby the corresponding lever will contact with the adjacent yoke and force it to move to cause its clutch member to be ei'igag,e(l with the fixed clutch..

d. rin iml'ilement steering attachmentfor tractor including a horizontal track fixed on the tractor, a carriage supported and guided by the track and adapted for connection to the tongue of a drawn implement, a, power driven shaft, a shaft on each side thereof, and normally disconnected therefrom, a drum on each shaft, cables wound on said drums and leading to the opposite ends of the carriage, a double-faced clutch member lined on the driven shaft, companion clutch members splined on the drum-shafts, yokes connected to said companion mem bers and arranged to normally hold the same disengaged, levers on opposite sides of the yokes and in alineinent therewith, a bar connecting said levers, the bar being arranged to be shiftefl in either direction, radially positioned teeth on the drumshafts, and a lug y on each lever adapted to .tit and be positioned between any two teeth when the levers are in neutral position but to move away from said teeth when the levers are shifted in either direction.

it An implement steering attachment for tractors comprising a carriage adapted for connection to the tongue of a drawn implement, means on the tractor for supporting and guiding the carriage, a power driven shaft` a pair of independent shafts, means for operatively connecting either at a time of said shafts with the driven shaft, and means operatively connected to said shafts and to the opposite ends ofthe carriage whereby the latter is moved one way or the other with the rotation of the corresponding shaft. Y

l0. dn implement steering attachment for tractors comprising a carriage adapted for connection to the tongue of a drawn imple ment, means on the tractor for supporting and gi'lidi. the carriage, a pair of independent sha means operatively connected to said shaits and to the opposite ends ofthe carriage for causing the latten to be .moved one way or the other when the corresponding shaft is rotated, and means for positively rotating either at a time of said shafts.

ln testimony whereof li atliX my signature.

ANTONE J. SILVA. 

